SAT Score Calculator: Raw Score to Scaled Score Conversion (2026)

You finished a practice SAT. You counted your correct answers. And now you are staring at a number that means nothing to you, because what you actually need to know is what that translates to out of 1600.

This is where most students get confused. The SAT does not work on a simple percentage scale. Every correct answer earns you a raw score point, but that raw score goes through a conversion process before becoming the scaled score colleges actually see.

This guide explains exactly how that conversion works, includes the full conversion tables for both sections, and shows you what your raw score means for your total SAT score.

How SAT Scoring Works: The Basics

The SAT scoring process has three layers. Understanding each one makes it far easier to interpret your results.

Layer 1: Raw Score

Your raw score is the total number of questions you answered correctly in a section. Nothing more.

The digital SAT does not subtract points for wrong answers. A wrong answer and a blank answer are worth exactly the same: zero. This means you should always answer every question, even on ones you have to guess on. A guess gives you a chance at a point. A blank gives you none.

Layer 2: Scaled Score

Your raw score is converted to a scaled score using a conversion table. The scale runs from 200 to 800 for each section. This conversion process, called equating, adjusts for the fact that some test forms are slightly harder or easier than others.

What this means in practice: getting 38 out of 44 correct on a harder Math section might convert to the same scaled score as getting 36 out of 44 correct on an easier one. The College Board designs this so that a 650 on Math always represents the same level of performance, regardless of which test form you sat.

Layer 3: Total Score

Your total SAT score is simply the sum of your two section scores. Math (200 to 800) plus Reading and Writing (200 to 800) equals a total between 400 and 1600.

The Structure of the Digital SAT

The digital SAT has two sections. Each section is split into two modules.

Module 2 of each section adapts based on your Module 1 performance. If you do well in Module 1, you get a harder Module 2. If you struggle in Module 1, you get an easier Module 2. The difficulty level of Module 2 affects how your raw score converts. More on that below.

Reading and Writing: Raw Score to Scaled Score

The Reading and Writing section has 54 questions. The table below shows approximate scaled scores for each raw score. Note that the exact conversion varies slightly between test forms. These figures are representative of typical College Board conversions.

Math: Raw Score to Scaled Score

The Math section has 44 questions. The table below shows approximate scaled scores for each raw score range. As with Reading and Writing, actual conversions vary slightly by test form.

How the Adaptive Format Affects Your Score

The digital SAT uses an adaptive design. Your Module 1 performance determines whether you get a harder or easier Module 2.

This matters for scoring in an important way: the harder Module 2 path gives you access to higher scaled scores. A student who gets all questions right on an easy Module 2 will not reach an 800 on that section. The ceiling is lower because the questions were less difficult.

Conversely, getting a difficult Module 2 and answering most questions correctly will convert to a higher scaled score than the same raw score on an easy module path.

Total SAT Score Reference Table

Use the table below to see how combinations of section scores translate to a total SAT score, along with approximate national percentiles based on College Board data.

Percentiles are approximate and based on College Board national score distributions. R&W and Math scores shown are equal splits for reference. Your actual section scores may differ.

Common Mistakes Students Make When Reading Their Score

Comparing raw scores across sections

Getting 38 out of 44 on Math is not the same as getting 38 out of 54 on Reading and Writing. The sections have different total question counts, and the conversion tables are completely separate. Always compare scaled scores, not raw scores.

Treating practice test scores as exact predictions

Your score on a practice test is an estimate, not a guarantee. Scores naturally vary by 30 to 50 points between sittings depending on how you felt that day, how familiar the content was, and random factors like which specific questions appeared. Look at trends across multiple practice tests, not individual results.

Ignoring section score imbalances

A total score of 1200 means very different things depending on whether it is 700 Math and 500 Reading and Writing, or 600 and 600. Many students have a significant imbalance between sections. If yours is more than 100 points apart, the weaker section is where your score gains will come from. Read our complete SAT Math topics breakdown if Math is your weaker section.

Leaving questions blank

Because there is no penalty for wrong answers, a blank answer is always worse than a guess. If you are running out of time, fill in answers for every remaining question before the timer ends. Even random guessing gives you a roughly 20 to 25 percent chance of earning a point on each question.

How to Use This to Improve Your Score

Knowing how scoring works unlocks more targeted prep. Here is how to apply it:

Once you understand exactly where your score is leaking, the next step is a structured plan to fix it. See our 90 day SAT study plan for a full schedule built around targeted practice, or read how to improve your SAT score by 200 points for the core strategy behind fast score improvement.

Frequently Asked Questions